Drought conditions east of the Cascade crest are so dire that state officials plan to cut off water for farmers, ranchers and more, something they’ve never done before.
Reservoirs in the Yakima River Basin are expected to run out of water early next week, officials with the Washington Department of Ecology said in a release. To conserve what little water remains for fish and senior water rights holders in the 6,100-square-mile basin, the state will halt surface water use, including water drawn from rivers, streams and reservoirs, on Monday through the end of the month.
The drastic measure comes on the tail end of Washington’s third severe drought in a row, which has hit the south-central portion of the state particularly hard. The Yakima River Basin serves as an important habitat for a wide variety of fish and wildlife, but it’s also home to some of the state’s most fertile cropland.
Reservoirs in the Yakima River Basin are expected to run out of water early next week, officials with the Washington Department of Ecology said in a release. To conserve what little water remains for fish and senior water rights holders in the 6,100-square-mile basin, the state will halt surface water use, including water drawn from rivers, streams and reservoirs, on Monday through the end of the month.
The drastic measure comes on the tail end of Washington’s third severe drought in a row, which has hit the south-central portion of the state particularly hard. The Yakima River Basin serves as an important habitat for a wide variety of fish and wildlife, but it’s also home to some of the state’s most fertile cropland.
